Avatar Wins Christmas Eve With $11.325M; Alvin 2 Second With 8.05M

According to preliminary studio estimates, Avatar pulled back to the top of the box office on Christmas Eve, nabbing $11.325 million (down 31% from Wednesday — $16.445), pushing its domestic tally to $137.27 million. The film is closing in on $400 million worldwide (current worldwide figure is $392.95 million).

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel finished in second place with an estimated $8.05 million (down 57% from its opening day — $18.801 million). It’s domestic total stands at $26.85 million.

The Avatar number is the biggest ever for a Christmas Eve — and ‘Alvin 2’ now has the second best Christmas Eve on record — and continues to point towards an incredibly impressive 1st place second weekend for the well-received sci-fi film. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King previously held the record for Christmas Eve, but Avatar easily bested it (Tuesday, December 24, 2002: $7.79M), even when adjusting for inflation.